Corrugated slit web diverter

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to novel apparatus for diverting slit webs of material, preferably corrugated board, and in one aspect includes a main path of travel for slit webs along a generally horizontal plane beyond which are flaps for diverting the slit webs from the main path to either of a pair of secondary paths of travel, the diverting means including a pair of deflectable flaps mounted for pivotal movement between a first position in diverging relationship in a downstream direction and either of second and third parallel positions each of which is in alignment with a pair of spaced elongated guide elements, and first and second means operable to move respective one or another of the flaps to achieve the respective second and third positions thereof. A portion of the main path and/or an elongated guide element of each secondary path is removable from its normal position to assist in removing jammed corrugated board. The apparatus may further include a full web diverter for feeding either of a pair of tandem slitter-scorers prior to the feed of the corrugated board to the slit web diverter.

United States Patent [191 Hellmer [451 Aug. 27, 1974 CORRUGATED SLllT WEB DWERTER [75] Inventor: ErnestW. Hellmer, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Continental Can Company inc,

New York, NY.

22 Filed: May 31,1972

21 Appl. No; 258,425

Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerLeon Gilden Attorney, Agent, or FirmDiller, Brown, Ramik & Wight l 57 1 ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to novel apparatus for diverting slit webs of material, preferably corrugated board, and in one aspect includes a main path of travel for slit webs along a generally horizontal plane beyond which are flaps for diverting the slit webs from the main path to either of a pair of secondary paths of travel, the diverting means including a pair of deflectable flaps mounted for pivotal movement between a first position in diverging relationship in a downstream direction and either of second and third parallel positions each of which is in alignment with a pair of spaced elongated guide elements, and first and second means operable to move respective one or another of the flaps to achieve the respective second and third positions thereof. A portion of the main path and/or an elongated guide element of each secondary path is removable from its normal position to assist in removing jammed corrugated board. The apparatus may further include a full web diverter for feeding either of a pair of tandem slitter-scorers prior to the feed of the corrugated board to the slit web diverter.

19 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAIENIED aunznsfu EEEEE=@EEEEEEFEE CORRUGATED SLIT was DIVERTER The present invention is directed to improvements in machines of the type typically disclosed in Saunders et a]. U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,441 issued Mar. 7, 1967 and entitled MACHINE FOR SLITTING AND TRANS- VERSELY CUTTING CORRUGATED BOARD. Typical of such machinery is the use of what is described therein as a double backer, a curing section, a shear station, a triple slitter, automatic lead-in tables, and a triple cut-off. The present invention relates to improvements in the so-called lead-in table or, as termed by patentee, a slit-web diverter.

Most typical among conventional problems is perhaps best exemplified by FIGS. 2 and 3 of the latter noted patent which illustrated a plurality of elongated, heavy, cumbersome tables likewise formed of elongated, heavy, cumbersome guide fingers which due to the mass thereof cannot be rapidly moved between desired positions particularly on an automatic basis when one particular order of corrugated board rapidly follows the other. If, for example, a first order of paperboard having a trailing edge is immediately followed by a second orders leading edge and the two must be diverted to different stations presetting could not achieve the desired diverting because of the impossibility of moving the diverting fingers to a new location in the minimal (seconds or less) time between leading and trailing ends of the two different corrugated board orders.

Just as important in such conventional machines as that disclosed in the latter-noted patent is the lack of appreciation of difficulties encountered during production and particularly the lack of sophisticated means for precluding, reducing, and/or eliminating jamming as well as the reduction in result machine down-time.

In keeping with the present invention it is a primary object to avoid known disadvantages of conventional machines of this type, and particularly so-called slit web diverters, particularly in providing rapidly operable deflector flaps which can instantaneously move between all required positions thereof upon the passage of the trailing end of a leading corrugated board order and the immediately following leading end of a different corrugated board order.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means upstream and downstream from the deflector flaps for removing at least temporarily portions of main and secondary feed paths to remove corrugated paper which has jammed up due to improper feed thereby reducing and/or eliminating the extent of damage and the length of machine down-time.

A further object of this invention is to achieve rapid removal of corrugated board jamming by providing as secondary guide paths a channel defined by a pair of elongated guide elements, at least one of the guide elements being mounted for pivotal movement, and fluid motor means generally maintaining the latter element parallel to a stationary element with the pivotally mounted element being movable in a more open position upon paper jamming with the movement being appropriately detectable to, for example, shut down the entire machine.

In keeping with another aspect of this invention it is a primary object to provide a novel system which utilizes a full web diverter immediately following the order cut off means such that the corrugated board can be delivered to either of a pair of tandem slitter-scorers and thereafter from each to a slit web diverter constructed in the manner heretofore described whereby corrugated board can be manufactured automatically order after order after order after order totally in the absence of manual operations.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. I is a highly perspective view of a novel machine constructed in accordance with this invention, and graphically indicates components necessary to form single wall corrugated board from three webs of material, the machine particularly including a pair of tandem slitter-scorers and particularly a slit web diverter of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the slit web diverter of FIG. I though more enlarged, and illustrates first and second path defining means and solenoids for operating the selected flaps in response to the presetting of a toggle switch operated program panel.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the slit web di verter and illustrates details of the main and secondary path defining means including a pivotal position of each for reducing down-time due to jamming and the manner in which each secondary path includes elongated elements defining guide channels for the web ma terial.

FIG. 4 is a highly enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the slit web diverter with portions broken away and shown in section for clarity, and more particularly illustrates the mounting and operation of the deflector flaps, the pivotally mounted main path portions, and the pivotal mounting of the elongated guide elements.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which the flaps are associated with the secondary paths.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrates another slit web diverter designed for partial manual operation in association with but a single slitter-scorer, and particularly illustrates the manner in which each of a pair of elongated guide elements is held in its operative position by an associated fluid motor.

FIG. '7 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 77 of FIG. 6, and illustrates the relationship between deflector flaps and secondary paths of web travel.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 8--8 of FIG. 7, and more clearly illustrates details of the deflector flaps, solenoids associated therewith, and means for moving a portion of the main path out of its normal generally horizontal plane.

FIG. 9 is a slightly enlarged cross sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 6, and illustrates the manner in which a single fluid motor supports a plurality of the elongated guide elements of the uppermost of the two secondary paths of web travel.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1 of the drawings in which a machine, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, is diagrammatically illustrated and is designed to form in a totally automatic manner single wall corrugated board from three rolls ll, 12 and 13 of paperstock material which are conventionally drawn therefrom by pull rolls, tandem belts, etc. (not shown) in the form of webs 14, 15 and 16, respectively. The webs l4 and 16 serve to form the facings while the web 15 is conventionally corrugated. The webs 14 through 16 are adhesively united and thereafter they are fed through a double backer 17 wherein the adhesive is dried and/or cured to form single wall corrugated board, generally designated by the reference numeral 20.

The first piece of equipment after the double backer H7 is the order cutoff 18 which, as the name implies, cuts the continuous web of corrugated board 20 when that particular order is complete. This is now conven tionally done by stopping and/or slowing down the entire line, activating the cutoff, and thereafter starting and/or speeding up the entire line.

In accordance with the present invention the next piece of equipment of the machine 10 is a full web diverter 2ll which diverts the entire web 20 along either of two paths 22 or 23 toward respective slitter-scorers 24, 25. The paths 22, 23 may be, for example, each defined by a plurality of pairs of conveyor belts or tapes between adjacent runs of which is fed the web 20 to and through either of the slitter-scorers 24, 25.

The slitter-scorers 24, 25 function to slit and score (for folds) in the longitudinal or machine direction. Present machines which utilize but a single slitterscorer have the succeeding or next to succeeding orders pre-set and the web is necessarily stopped at the end of one order after which the single slitter-scorer is indexed to its pre-set position and the web is then handfed thereto. In the present invention due to the use of the full web diverter 21 and the pair of slitter-scorers 24, 25 stoppage is unnecessary and the web 20 automatically passes into either the slitter-scorers whereat it is automatically slit longitudinally or in the machine direction into several webs (up to seven), but usually not of more than two different widths.

The webs after exiting the slitter-scorers 24, 25 are fed into a slit web diverter which functions to divert the transverse webs into a sheet cutoff 31 which includes four sets of knives 32, two of which are usually used at one time to cut off the sheets transversely into proper lengths. Thereafter, the cut sheets are conveyed to storage, may be packaged, may be further processed, and/or may be otherwise prepared for shipment at a station generally designated by the reference numeral 33.

Reference is now more specifically made to FIGS. 2 through 5 of the drawings in which is more specifically illustrated the slit web diverter 30 which includes a frame 34 defined by a plurality of vertical uprights 35 spanned at top and bottom by appropriate bridging members 36 to impart to the frame 34 a generally open rectangular configuration.

The two uprights 35, 35 adjacent the entrance end portion 37 of the slit web diverter 30 are spanned by angle irons 40, 4i and 412, 43 with horizontal flanges (unnumbered) thereof in spaced parallel relationship, in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 4. The same uprights 35, 35 are also spanned transversely by larger angle irons 44, 45 and 46, 47, likewise with unnumbered flanges thereof in spaced generally parallel relationship. In much the same manner the uprights 35, 35 most closely adjacent an exit end portion 48 of the slit web diverter 30 are spanned by a plurality of transverse angle irons, each being generally designated by the reference numeral 50, which function for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter. The major components of the frame 34 further include an intermediate support structure, generally designated by the reference numeral 51 which is generally of H-shaped configuration looking from right to left or vice versa in FIG. 3 except the cross bar of the H is formd by two transverse bars 52, 53 joined to upright bars 54, 55 which are in turn secured to the cross braces 36, 36 at both the top and bottom ends thereof.

At the entrance end portion 38 of the slit web diverter 30 means, generally designated by the reference numeral 55, are provided for each defining a generally horizontal path of travel for the webs 22, 23 after the latter have exited the respective slitter-scorers 24 or 25. The main path defining means 55 may include in addition to the structure illustrated conveyor belts, rollers, or such similar conventional structure for assisting the conveying of the webs 22, 23 from right-to-left, as viewed in FIG. 3. Thus though only partially illustrated the portion 55 of the main path shown is in effect a guide defined by a pair of plates 56, 57 having flaring ends (unnumbered) through which the webs are guided toward and between the angle bars 40, 41 and 42, 43, respectively. The plates 56, 57 are supported by suitable rectangular frames 58, 59 which are in turn rigidly connected to each other by a rectangular yoke 61 pivotally connected by a pivot pin 62 to a plurality of brackets 63 welded or otherwise secured to the angle bars 41 and 42. The means 55 are normally supported in the solid outline positions thereof best illustrated in FIG. 4 by fluid motor means in the form of fluid cylinders 64 pivotally mounted at 65 to a generally U- shaped plate 66 whose ends are secured to the flanges (unnumbered) of the angle irons 45, 46. Rods 67 are pivotally mounted at 68 to a reinforcing plate 70 of each means of each means 55 which is secured to the frame 59 thereof and the yoke 61. Fluid, such as air, is introduced into and withdrawn from the cylinder 64 in a conventional manner by, for example, a servo valve which conventionally vents and pressurizes head and rod ends or vice versa of the cylinder 64 to permit the rod 67 to be extended or retracted. In the extended position best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 the means 55 are maintained in a generally horizontal plane for receiving therethrough and guiding the webs 22 or 23. However, should jamming occur due to misfeed and thus build-up of the web material 22, 23, the piston 67 can be retracted individually to draw the upper means 55 downwardly to the phantom outline position shown in FIG. 4 or the lower means 55 upwardly (not shown) in order that the jammed web material may be readily and rapidly removed to reduce machine down-time.

Downstream from each of the main path or main path portion defining means 55, 55 is deflecting means 70 and second path defining means to which is deflected portions of the webs 22, 23 slit by the respective slitter-scorers 24, 25.

The deflecting means 70 include a plurality of deflecting flaps 71 spaced transversely across the machine 10, in the manner best illustrated in FIG. 5. In the present embodiment of the invention there are a total of seventeen deflecting flaps 71 in each row with another seventeen flaps cooperative therewith, and since there are two sets of deflecting means 70, as best shown in FIG. 4, the total number of deflecting flaps 71 is 68. Means (unnumbered) pivotally secure the deflecting flaps 71 to the associated angle bars through 43 while springs 72 connected between the flaps 71 and the associated flanges (unnumbered) of the angle irons 44 through 47 normally urge cooperative deflecting flaps in diverging relationship in a direction looking from right-to-left in FIG. 4 or downstream. A solenoid 73 having a plunger 74 is associated with each flap 71 and is suitably mounted to its associated angle iron 44 through 47. Conductors from the solenoid 73 are suitably coupled to a bus bar 75 which is in turn coupled to a source of electrical energy and a plurality of toggle switches 76 (FIG. 3) of the three-position type. The switches 76 are positioned in upper and lower banks (unnumbered) with there being 17 switches in each bank corresponding to the 17 deflecting flaps 71 of each row. In the neutral or central position of the switch arms (unnumbered) the solenoids 73 are not energized and thus are retained in the normal position thereof illustrated in FIG. 4 by the springs 72. Movement of the toggle switch arms upwardly, as indicated by the first nine switches as counted from the left in FIG. 3 results in the energization of the first nine uppermost solenoids 73 in FIG. 5 of the uppermost row resulting in the deflection of these flaps 71 downwardly. In FIG. 3 the remaining eight toggle switch arms are illustrated in their lowermost position which will energize the remaining eight solenoids carried by the angle iron thus deflecting the associated deflecting flaps upwardly. Thus as viewed from right-to-left in FIG. 3 the first portion (unnumbered) of the slit web 22 exiting the main path defining means will be fed to the uppermost path defining means 80 whereas the remaining portion, assuming that the web 22 has been slit in only two portions, will be fed into the secondmost from the top of the second path defining means 80 thereby directing the two portions of the web 22 into the uppermost pair of cutters 32 and thence to the storage area 33.

The lower bank of toggle switches 76 in FIG. 3 have been illustrated with the toggle switch arms position to deflect three portions of the web 23 after having exited through the slitter-scorer 25. The first five toggle switch arms as counted from the left in FIG. 3 are positioned in their upper position as are the last seven toggle switch arms, with the five toggle switch arms therebetween being in their lowermost positions. By this setting the leftmost and rightmost portions of the slit web 23 as viewed from right-to-left in FIG. 3 are directed into the lowermost second path defining means 80 whereas the central portion of the slit web is directed into the second path defining means 80, as counted from the bottom in FIG. 3.

Adjacent each of the banks of the toggle switches 76 is a rod 77 secured by brackets 78 to the upright 35 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The rod 77 carries one or more sliders 69 which are slid therealong to visibly indicate the status of the toggle switch arms and thus with an appropriately graduated indicating device 79 the particular width of the slit web portions being diverted by the deflecting means 70. Thus the single generally centrally located disk or slider 69 of the upper bank of switches 76 indicates that only two portions of the Web 22 are being diverted and the graduations on the indicating device 79 indicate the width of each. Likewise, the two buttons associated with the lower bank of switches 76 indicate that three slit web portions of the web 23 are being diverted, and likewise indicate the width of each portion.

Between the deflecting means 71 and the second path defining means 80 is juncture defining means 90 which in effect form continuations of the deflecting flaps 71 irrespective of the position or positions thereof. Each of the juncture defining means 90 is formed by a transverse generally V-shaped plate 91 whose arms (unnumbered) are secured to the associated cross bar 52. Parallel to each of the arms of the plate 91 is another plate 92, 93 welded or otherwise secured between the upstanding posts 54 of the generally I-I-shaped frame 51. In the normal divergent positions of the deflecting flaps 71 the same are in alignment with the plates 91 or 92, but when deflected by the operation of the associated plungers 74 the deflecting flaps 71 are brought into generally parallel relationship with each other while at the same time the moved deflecting flap is aligned with either of the arms of the plate 91. In this manner smooth transition is effected as the slit web portions exit the deflecting means and move toward the second path defining means 80.

The second path defining means each include a pair of elongated guide elements 81, 82 supported in generally spaced parallel relationship to define therebetween a guide channel 83 for the passage of the slit web portions. Entrance end portions (unnumbered) of each of the elongated elements 8ll, 82 are hingedly secured to the plates 91 through 93, whereas exit end portions (unnumbered) of the elongated elements 81, 82 are secured between selected pairs of the angle bars 50. Thus in operation the elongated elements 81, 82 are stationary but, as indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 3, the same may be varied :in position by simply detaching the exit end portions thereof, pivoting each of the elongated elements 81, 82 to a new position, and thereat securing the same to the :angle bars 50.

Though the operation of the machine 10 is considered apparent from the description thus far set forth herein, one important feature of the invention has not been described and this involves the presetting of the slit web diverter 30 for a succeeding run during the passage therethrough of an earlier run of the corrugated board. This is accomplished by resetting the switches 76 for a subsequent run of the corrugated board during the passage therethrough of a first-set run. For example, with reference to FIG. 3 and assuming that the corrugated board is passing through the two uppermost secondary path defining means 80, the upper bank of toggle switches 76 are reset for the next order by, for example, depressing downwardly the seven toggle switch arms counted from the left and moving upwardly the eight toggle switch arms counted from the right of the upper bank. This would energize the respective solenoids 73, and though energized the deflecting flaps 71 cannot move to their fully deflected position due to the corrugated web portions passing therebetween. However, at the end of the particular order involved the trailing end of the slit web portions will pass beyond the deflecting flaps 71 and prior to the leading end of the next order arriving thereat the preenergized solenoids 73 will, through the plunger 74,

move the deflecting flaps '71 to the earlier preset position thus diverting the next order as desired.

Reference is now made to another slit web diverter constructed in accordance with this invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 6 through 9 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 30. Inasmuch as the diverter 30' is quite similar to the diverter 30 the common structure has been indicated by primed reference numerals corresponding to the reference numerals of the slit web diverter 30. The major difference between the two slit web diverters is the mounting of the secondary path defining means 80'. As in the case of the means 80, the secondary path defining means 80 includes a channel 83 between elongated guide elements 81, 82'. Only the elongated ele ments 82 are rigidly secured at opposite ends to the frame 34' whereas at one end each of the elongated elements 81 is pivotally attached in a conventional manner to the frame 34. The elongated elements 81' are supported in parallel relationship to the respective elongated elements 82' by fluid motor means in the form of fluid cylinders 100 suitably pivotally secured to the frame 34' and piston rods 101 thereof pivotally secured to each of the plurality of elongated elements 81. Adjacent each unsecured end portion of the elongated elements 81 is a limit switch 102 suitably secured to the frame 34 having an arm 103 normally resting upon the associated end of the elongated elements 81'. With the piston rods 101 extended under a predetermined pressure, as determined by a suitable adjustable pressure valve, the slid web portions are guided through the channel means 83 as in the manner of the machine and particularly the slit web diverter thereof heretofore described. However, should any of the slit web portions jam during the passage thereof through the guide means 83 the corrugated board will begin building up within the guide means 83' causing the elongated elements 81' to pivot forcing the associated piston rods 101 into the associated cylinder 100 against the resistance offered by the control fluid pressure. This pivoting movement results in the switch arms 103 being moved and the signal thereof may be used for many purposes as, for example, shutting down the over-all machine drive, the conveying system thereof, and if desired lighting jam indicating lights (not shown). Thus the air or other fluid pressure in the cylinders 100 by being appropriately adjustably regulated would determine the jam pressure capacity and the limit switches 102 would be operated in accordance therewith.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in detail and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spitit and scope of this disclosure.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for diverging slit webs of material comprising means defining a main path of travel for slit webs along a generally horizontal plane, means defining at least a pair of secondary paths of travel for slit webs exiting from said main path of travel, each secondary path being defined by at least two pairs of spaced guide means each defining therebetween a guide channel, means between said main and secondary path defining means for selectively diverting slit webs from said main path of travel to either of said secondary paths of travel, said diverting means include a pair of deflectable flaps, means mounting said pair of flaps for pivotal movement between a first position in diverging relationship to each other in a direction from said main path toward said secondary paths and either of second and third parallel positions to each other one each of which is in alignment with one of said pair of spaced guide means, means operable to move one of said flaps to achieve said second position, and means operable to move the other of said flaps to achieve said third position.

2. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim l including means for removing a portion of said main path of travel defining means from said generally horizontal plane whereby slit web jamming can be reduced and/or readily overcome to resume normal operation.

3. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each guide channel is defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally relative parallel relationship, and means pivotally mounting at least one guide element of each guide means whereby web jamming can be reduced and/or readily overcome to resume normal operations.

4. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each guide channel is defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally relative parallel relationship, means mounting said guide elements for movement relative to each other, and means for detecting relative movement of said guide elements away from each other thereby indicating slit web jamming upon the build-up thereof between said guide elements.

5. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each guide channel is defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally relative parallel relationship, and means pivotally mounting each guide element at an end thereof adjacent said diverting means whereby parallel positions other than said second and third positions can be effected.

6. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each guide channel is defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally relative parallel relationship, means mounting at least one of said guide elements for movement relative to the other, and fluid motor means for moving said one guide element relative to the other guide element.

7. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means defining a second main path of travel for other slit webs along a generally horizontal plane, means defining at least another pair of secondary paths of travel for the other slit webs exiting from said second main path of travel, each another secondary path being defined by at least two pairs of spaced guide means each defining therebetween a guide channel, means be tween said second main and another secondary path defining means for selectively diverting said other slit webs from said second main path of travel to either of said another secondary paths of travel, and means mounting one of said another secondary path defining means for movement to a position whereat the output therefrom is the same as the output from one of said first-mentioned secondary paths.

8. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided for preselecting the operation of both said flap operating means.

9. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means mounting said main path portion for pivoting movement out of said generally horizontal plane, and fluid motor means for imparting pivoting movement to said main path portion.

10. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means mounting said main path portion for pivoting movement out of said generally horizontal plane, fluid motor means for imparting pivoting movement to said main path portion, and said main path portion being defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements defining therebetween a guide channel for said slit webs.

111. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each guide channel is defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally relative parallel relationship, and means pivotally mounting at least one guide element of each guide means whereby web jamming can be reduced and/or readily overcome to resume normal operations.

12. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 3 including means for detecting movement of said one guide element away from the remaining guide element of each guide means.

13. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 3 including means for conveying said slit webs through said diverting apparatus, means for detecting movement of said one guide element away from the remaining guide element of each guide means, and means responsive to said diverting means for terminating the operation of said conveying means.

14. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 3 in cluding means for conveying said slit webs through said diverting apparatus, means for detecting movement of said one guide element away from the remaining guide element of each guide means, means responsive to said diverting means for terminating the operation of said conveying means, and pneumatic piston-cylinder means for normally supporting said one and remaining guide elements of each guide means in generally parallel relationship to each other.

15. Apparatus for diverting slit webs of material comprising means defining a main path of travel for slit webs along a generally horizontal plane, means defining at least a pair of secondary paths of travel for slit webs exiting from said main path of travel, each secondary path being defined by at least two pairs of spaced guide means each defining therebetween a guide channel, means between said main and secondary path defining means for selectively diverting slit webs from said main path of travel to either of said secondary paths of travel, each guide channel being defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally parallel relationship, and means pivotally mounting at least one guide element relative to another guide element of each guide means whereby web jamming can be reduced and/or readily overcome to resume normal operations.

16. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 15 including means for detecting relative movement of said one and another guide element of each pair in a direction away from each other thereby indicating slit web jamming upon the buildup thereof between said guide elements.

17. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 15 including fluid motor means for supporting said one guide element in relative parallel relationship to said another guide element, and said one guide element being pivoted against the force of said fluid motor up the build-up of jammed slit web material.

18. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 16 including fluid motor means for supporting said one guide element in relative parallel relationship to said another guide element, and said one guide element being pivoted against the force of said fluid motor up the buildup of jammed slit web.

19. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 16 including means for removing a portion of said main path of travel defining means from said generally horizontal plane whereby slit web jamming can be reduced and/or readily overcome to resume normal operation. 

1. Apparatus for diverging slit webs of material comprising means defining a main path of travel for slit webs along a generally horizontal plane, means defining at least a pair of secondary paths of travel for slit webs exiting from said main path of travel, each secondary path being defined by at least two pairs of spaced guide means each defining therebetween a guide channel, means between said main and secondary path defining means for selectively diverting slit webs from said main path of travel to either of said secondary paths of travel, said diverting means include a pair of deflectable flaps, means mounting said pair of flaps for pivotal movement between a first position in diverging relationship to each other in a direction from said main path toward said secondary paths and either of second and third parallel positions to each other one each of which is in alignment with one of said pair of spaced guide means, means operable to move one of said flaps to achieve said second position, and means operable to move the other of said flaps to achieve said third position.
 2. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for removing a portion of said main path of travel defining means from said generally horizontal plane whereby slit web jamming can be reduced and/or readily overcome to resume normal operation.
 3. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each guide channel is defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally relative parallel relationship, and means pivotally mounting at least one guide element of each guide means whereby web jamming can be reduced and/or readily overcome to resume normal operations.
 4. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each guide channel is defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally relative parallel relationship, means mounting said guide elements for movement relative to each other, and means for detecting relative movement of said guide elements away from each other thereby indicating slit web jamming upon the build-up thereof between said guide elements.
 5. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each guide channel is defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally relative parallel relationship, and means pivotally mounting each guide element at an end thereof adjacent said diverting means whereby parallel positions other than said second and third positions can be effected.
 6. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each guide channel is defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally relative parallel relationship, means mounting at least one of said guide elements for movement relaTive to the other, and fluid motor means for moving said one guide element relative to the other guide element.
 7. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means defining a second main path of travel for other slit webs along a generally horizontal plane, means defining at least another pair of secondary paths of travel for the other slit webs exiting from said second main path of travel, each another secondary path being defined by at least two pairs of spaced guide means each defining therebetween a guide channel, means between said second main and another secondary path defining means for selectively diverting said other slit webs from said second main path of travel to either of said another secondary paths of travel, and means mounting one of said another secondary path defining means for movement to a position whereat the output therefrom is the same as the output from one of said first-mentioned secondary paths.
 8. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided for preselecting the operation of both said flap operating means.
 9. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means mounting said main path portion for pivoting movement out of said generally horizontal plane, and fluid motor means for imparting pivoting movement to said main path portion.
 10. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means mounting said main path portion for pivoting movement out of said generally horizontal plane, fluid motor means for imparting pivoting movement to said main path portion, and said main path portion being defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements defining therebetween a guide channel for said slit webs.
 11. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each guide channel is defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally relative parallel relationship, and means pivotally mounting at least one guide element of each guide means whereby web jamming can be reduced and/or readily overcome to resume normal operations.
 12. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 3 including means for detecting movement of said one guide element away from the remaining guide element of each guide means.
 13. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 3 including means for conveying said slit webs through said diverting apparatus, means for detecting movement of said one guide element away from the remaining guide element of each guide means, and means responsive to said diverting means for terminating the operation of said conveying means.
 14. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 3 including means for conveying said slit webs through said diverting apparatus, means for detecting movement of said one guide element away from the remaining guide element of each guide means, means responsive to said diverting means for terminating the operation of said conveying means, and pneumatic piston-cylinder means for normally supporting said one and remaining guide elements of each guide means in generally parallel relationship to each other.
 15. Apparatus for diverting slit webs of material comprising means defining a main path of travel for slit webs along a generally horizontal plane, means defining at least a pair of secondary paths of travel for slit webs exiting from said main path of travel, each secondary path being defined by at least two pairs of spaced guide means each defining therebetween a guide channel, means between said main and secondary path defining means for selectively diverting slit webs from said main path of travel to either of said secondary paths of travel, each guide channel being defined by a pair of spaced elongated guide elements normally disposed in generally parallel relationship, and means pivotally mounting at least one guide element relative to another guide element of each guide means whereby web jamming can be reduced and/or readily overcome to resume normal operations.
 16. The diverting apparatus as defined in Claim 15 including means for detecting relative movement of said one and another guide element of each pair in a direction away from each other thereby indicating slit web jamming upon the buildup thereof between said guide elements.
 17. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 15 including fluid motor means for supporting said one guide element in relative parallel relationship to said another guide element, and said one guide element being pivoted against the force of said fluid motor up the build-up of jammed slit web material.
 18. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 16 including fluid motor means for supporting said one guide element in relative parallel relationship to said another guide element, and said one guide element being pivoted against the force of said fluid motor up the build-up of jammed slit web.
 19. The diverting apparatus as defined in claim 16 including means for removing a portion of said main path of travel defining means from said generally horizontal plane whereby slit web jamming can be reduced and/or readily overcome to resume normal operation. 